May 19, 2007
Alamance Battleground NC Historic Site
My Name is Sam Powell. I hold the office of President, NCSSAR and I bring you a warm welcome from the 700 members of our State Society.
I would like to recognize a few of our State Officers who are present with us today:
From Fayetteville:
LTC Frank Horton, USA (RET.) - VP NCSSAR
Steve Pittard - Secretary, NCSSAR
Rev. Clark Wiser - Chaplain, NCSSAR
Dick Bishop - Southeast District VP NCSSAR
From Alamance:
Bob Yankle - Web Master and Principal Photographer, NCSSAR
From Halifax
Steve Avent - Northeast District VP NCSSAR
I also welcome the support by other Compatriot members from the State Society SAR and the DAR members who have joined us today in support of this event.
I would also like to recognize Jeff Bright, President of the Alamance Battleground Chapter, NCSSAR for organizing this event today, and to Nat Clark for his support and for providing today’s program.
In addition, I am pleased to welcome two local citizens who continue to offer their support to the Patriots’ Day celebration. They are:
NC House Member (District 63) Representative Alice Bordsen (DAR) who counts 2 ancestors who fought here at the Battle of Alamance (father and son team of William and Jonathan Newberry)
Mrs. Pat S. Bailey – a local historian who was largely responsible for establishing our Memorial Site for the Battle of Clapp’s Mill.
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is a patriotic organization. The mission of the SAR is to promote patriotism, and to reaffirm those values on which our country was established.
Membership in our society requires proof of lineage back to a Patriot of the War for Independence. We welcome additional membership, and would be happy to assist any one of you who might have an interest in joining us.
Today we celebrate Patriots’ Day
We are here to honor and remember those who fought in three battles in what is now Alamance County: the Battle of Clapp’s Mill, Pyle’s Defeat and the Battle of Lindley’s Mill. Two other battles also occurred near here: Hart’s Mill on the Eno River just east of the Alamance County line and west of Hillsborough; and the Battle of Weitzel’s Mill, which occurred just west of the Alamance County line. Patriots’ Day should also be considered an opportunity to remember these battles as well. Instead of having five separate observances, we have one which we have chosen to call Patriots’ Day.
We have selected a date for our observance to coincide with the Anniversary of the Battle of Alamance which was fought on May 16, 1771. The three Revolutionary War battles fought in Alamance County occurred in February, March and September some 10 years lateer. Is it appropriate for us to have chosen this location and this date to remember the American Revolution? Are we in the right spot?
Brief Remarks about the May 16, 1771 Battle of Alamance
Why is the Battle of Alamance not considered part of the American Revolution?
Three good reasons are:
1) No British except Royal Gov. Tryon were present
2) There was no clear distinction between Whigs and Tories. The Battle was fought between the NC Militia under Governor Tryon and the Regulators (Rebels). Many of the Rebels would later take an oath of allegiance to the King and join the side of the Tories.
3) They were not fighting for independence from Britain, rather they were fighting for proper and fair government with representation.
Then I ask you, “What were they doing here that day?”. When you line up with guns blazing, you are no longer working within peaceful means to get your point across. When you fight, you have crossed that line between peaceful negotiation and treason.
The monument here behind us has a plaque that reads “The first Battle of the American Revolution was fought in Orange County May 16, 1771.”
When Governor Tryon said “Fire!, Fire on them or fire on me”, one can make the argument that the Revolution had started.
This was an important battle, and had a major influence on the War for Independence. Some 6,000 men later signed an oath of allegiance to the crown. In 1775 – 1776, when General Clinton moved into North Carolina to put down the revolt, he counted on the Regulators to assist him and they were recruited for the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge. This effort failed, and gave hope to the Patriots who would then adopt the Halifax Resolves. In 1781, Lord Cornwallis would come back into North Carolina looking for recruits from the Regulators. Again, the effort would fall short of British hopes.
Are we in the right place to have a ceremony here at this spot? My answer is “Yes”. The battle fought here may well be considered a start to the War for Independence, even if not technically accepted as such.
The Battle of Alamance was an important event. This is an especially fitting site for us to remember those who fought in the War for Independence.